Chapter 817 - 584: Unattainable (Part 2)
But for Huang Jun, who has system assistance, he should pursue the pinnacle of skill and choose the more challenging method of deboning the whole fish.
However, he feels that if it’s to be done, both methods should be tried to personally verify their respective charms.
As for the cooking methods Yu Daqing mentioned!
Although the deboning step makes the ordinary fish unique,
it spares people the pain of spitting out fish bones!
The conventional method is good but does not fully showcase the essence of deboning skills.
So he’s thinking about how to make the dish tasty and also visibly highlight the deboning skill.
In other words, he wants to create a dish that is both delicious and unique, and that makes a strong impression.
He just hasn’t come up with a suitable dish yet.
With a smile, Huang Jun said, "I should have no problem deboning the carp. But after careful consideration, I feel that the dishes suggested by Assistant Chef Yu do not fully showcase the unique charm of deboning skills..."
As soon as he said this, everyone was taken aback, looking at each other, pondering the deeper meaning of Huang Jun’s words.
Could it be...
that he’s not entirely confident about deboning a one-pound carp and worries about making a mistake, so he sought a tactful way to say it?
After all, even skilled chefs have areas they’re not proficient in, which is perfectly normal.
Knowing this, everyone chose to tacitly give Huang Jun a way to back down.
Zhao Weiguang thought for a moment and with a smile, proposed his view: "I think if we want to make a unique dish, why not combine carp and lamb to create the classic ’fish and lamb fresh’?"
But Qian Guoxiang had a different opinion, gently shaking his head and saying, "Fish and lamb fresh is indeed delicious, but if the mutton’s gamey taste and the fish’s fishy taste are not handled well, the dish can easily become unbalanced, turning gamey and fishy, affecting the taste."
As he said this, he seemed to realize his words might carry doubt on Huang Jun’s culinary skills, and quickly added: "Mainly, our kitchen currently doesn’t have lamb in stock, so we can’t make this dish either.
If we have enough ingredients, this dish would be a good choice, and it doesn’t necessarily need deboning, making it relatively simple to handle."
Hearing this, Huang Jun nodded slightly, falling into a brief contemplation.
Seeing this, everyone was even more convinced that he really wasn’t adept at deboning fish.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed with Qian Guoxiang’s words.
A moment later...
𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
A spark of inspiration flashed in Huang Jun’s eyes: "How about I try making a ’three fresh deboned fish’? This dish can fully demonstrate the art of deboning while cleverly blending various fresh ingredients, surely making it impressive."
In fact, the ’three fresh deboned fish’ is not exclusive to Su cuisine; it’s found in Sichuan cuisine as well.
However, Su cuisine, which emphasizes mild flavors, prefers steaming to maximize the freshness and tenderness of the fish, and the method is not complex.
Upon hearing this, everyone was once again surprised.
This ’three fresh deboned fish’ surely requires deboning.
So...
Did they misunderstand Huang Jun’s meaning?
Was it not that he’s not good at deboning carp?
It must be this way!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have proposed making a dish that requires high deboning skills.
Qian Guoxiang’s eyes lit up when he heard this, nodding approvingly and saying, "Three fresh deboned fish, truly brilliant! This dish is a classic piece of Su cuisine, testing both the chef’s knife skills and the precision of seasoning. Chef Huang, if you can present it perfectly, today’s lunch will be much more splendid."
Meng Hongze stood by, scratching his head with a simple smile: "Chef Huang, however you want to make this dish today, I’ll fully cooperate with you. To be honest, I’ve got some experience deboning carp under five pounds, but when it comes to small carp a little over a pound, I’m not confident in the meticulous deboning work and worry about messing up our big plan."
Huang Jun smiled humbly, gently waving his hand, and said, "Assistant Chef Meng, you’re being too polite. Actually, it’s my first time trying to debone a small carp weighing a little over a pound, and honestly, I’m not confident if I can do it well."
Everyone was surprised upon hearing this, evidently skeptical.
Meng Hongze laughed heartily and said, "Chef Huang, are you kidding us~"
Yu Daqing quickly chimed in: Indeed, Chef Huang, we’ve all witnessed your culinary skills firsthand; whether it’s the exquisite knife work or the mastery of cooking temperature, you handle it perfectly, earning our sincere admiration. We’re looking forward to your ’three fresh deboned fish,’ confident you can once again showcase your superb skills."
Qian Guoxiang, who knows Huang Jun quite well, added: "Chef Huang is good in all aspects, just a bit too humble. When he says he’s not confident, it’s likely he’s fully prepared."
"Oh, so that’s it!"
Everyone suddenly understood.
Huang Jun kept a faint smile on his lips, said no more, and took out a vivacious carp from the basket, gently placing it on the cutting board.
He first gently tapped the fish gills with the knife back, which made the fish tremble slightly, then quiet down, staying still.
"Swish swish swish~"
The fish scales scattered in his hands like falling leaves as he deftly opened the fish belly, removing all the innards.
After completing these steps, he entered the inside of the fish meat along the opened gap, disconnecting the connection between the carp’s rib bones and vertebral bones.